Protests planned for Hu’s US trip

ROCKY ROAD:Hu Jintao could face a less-than-cordial welcome, with hearings on Capitol Hill about China’s behavior and questions about its new J-20 stealth fighter

By William Lowther / Staff reporter in WASHINGTON

The Washington Post said the testing of the J-20 was “a blunt demonstration” of the People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) willingness to challenge both the US and China’s president.

“It was a clear statement that although Hu might want Gates in China to burnish his legacy as a steward of solid ties with Washington before he steps down next year, the military has a different view,” the newspaper said.

“Making matters worse for Hu, when Gates queried him about the 15-minute flight, it appeared to him that the PLA had kept word of the test from China’s president and all other Chinese civilians at the meeting,” the Post said.

“The PLA has wrong-footed China’s civilians before, but has never so publicly embarrassed Hu,” the paper said.